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Operation Dynamo: The Grit and Determination of Allied Soldiers in Rare Photos from the Dunkirk Evacuation

In May 1940, World War II was raging across Europe. German forces launched a blitzkrieg, or lightning war, against France and the Low Countries. They quickly overran Belgium and the Netherlands and pushed deep into France. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), along with French and Belgian troops, found themselves trapped by the advancing German army. They were cornered near the port of Dunkirk in northern France. The situation seemed hopeless. The Allies faced annihilation or capture.

The Decision to Evacuate

With the German forces closing in, the British and French commanders realized they had to evacuate their troops. They chose Dunkirk as the evacuation point because it was the closest port to Britain. The operation was code-named Operation Dynamo. Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay was put in charge of planning and executing the evacuation. He set up his headquarters in the tunnels beneath Dover Castle. The operation began on May 26, 1940.

The evacuation faced many challenges. Dunkirk’s beaches were shallow, making it difficult for large ships to approach. The German Luftwaffe, or air force, controlled the skies and could attack the troops and ships easily. The German army was also advancing rapidly, threatening to capture Dunkirk and cut off the escape route. The weather was another factor; rough seas could hamper the evacuation efforts.

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The Little Ships

One of the most remarkable aspects of Operation Dynamo was the use of “little ships.” These were a diverse fleet of small civilian vessels, including fishing boats, pleasure craft, and lifeboats. The British government issued a call for help, and hundreds of civilian boat owners responded. These little ships sailed from Britain to Dunkirk, braving dangerous waters and enemy fire. They played a crucial role in ferrying soldiers from the beaches to the larger ships waiting offshore.

The Evacuation Begins

The evacuation started on the evening of May 26. The first few days were chaotic and slow. German air attacks caused heavy casualties and damaged several ships. Despite these challenges, the evacuation gathered momentum. The Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy worked tirelessly, alongside the little ships, to rescue as many soldiers as possible.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) played a critical role in protecting the evacuation. RAF fighters engaged the Luftwaffe in fierce battles over Dunkirk. Although outnumbered, the RAF pilots fought bravely to keep the German planes at bay. Their efforts provided some cover for the troops on the ground and the ships in the water. Many soldiers later credited the RAF with saving their lives.

The soldiers waiting on the beaches faced harrowing conditions. They were exposed to constant air attacks and artillery fire. Food and water were scarce, and medical supplies were limited. Despite the danger, the troops showed remarkable discipline and courage. They formed orderly lines and waited patiently for their turn to be evacuated. Many soldiers helped their wounded comrades and assisted in the boarding of the boats.

The French Contribution

French troops played a vital role in the defense of Dunkirk. While the evacuation was underway, French soldiers held back the German advance, buying valuable time for the evacuation to continue. Many French soldiers were evacuated alongside their British allies. However, a significant number of French troops remained behind to cover the retreat and were ultimately captured by the Germans.

The peak of the evacuation occurred between May 27 and June 4. On May 29, over 47,000 soldiers were evacuated in one day. The following days saw similar numbers, with a total of 338,226 soldiers rescued by the end of the operation. The majority of these were British, but around 140,000 were French and Belgian troops.

The Aftermath

Operation Dynamo officially ended on June 4, 1940. Although the evacuation was a remarkable success, it came at a high cost. The BEF lost much of its equipment, including tanks, trucks, and artillery. Many ships were sunk or damaged, and there were significant casualties. However, the successful evacuation boosted morale in Britain and allowed the Allies to continue the fight against Germany.

The story of Dunkirk is often remembered for the “Dunkirk spirit.” This term describes the determination, resilience, and unity shown by the British people during the evacuation. The bravery of the soldiers, the efforts of the RAF, and the courage of the civilian boat owners demonstrated the strength and solidarity of the nation in the face of adversity.

#1 Operation Dynamo: Three men being rescued from the sea after having to abandon ship during their evacuation from the beaches at Dunkirk, 1940.

#2 Operation Dynamo: Members of the British Expeditionary Force arrive back in Britain with a Union Jack after being evacuated from Dunkirk, 1940.

#3 An Indian member of the Indian Army Services Corps, some of whom were evacuated from Dunkirk together with the British Expeditionary Force, 1940.

#4 Troops aboard a train, having returned from Dunkirk as part of the British Expeditionary Force, 1940.

#5 Retreating soldiers struggling through the sea because the waiting ships could not get closer to the Dunkirk beach, 1940.

#6 Troops continue to arrive home in their thousands following the rescue of the British Expeditionary Forces at Dunkirk. This member of the BEF has brought a German rifle home as a souvenir, 1940.

#7 Soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force returning to France after leave, 1940.

#8 Children rush up to a train carrying BEF men back from Dunkirk, 1940.

#9 Two soldiers tuck in to the food and refreshment they received after their arrival in Britain, after evacuation from Dunkirk, 1940.

#10 Refreshments for French soldiers and marines on arrival in England.

#11 Over 338,000 Allied troops were brought back to England.

#12 French marines and soldiers arrive at a south coast English town after fighting the rear guard action in Dunkirk, 1940.

#13 Voluntary helpers give refreshments to wounded soldiers, members of the British Expeditionary Force, on board a hospital train, 1940.

#14 Members of the British forces arrive home by train after being evacuated from Dunkirk, 1940.

#15 Members of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) smiling happily at a halt in their journey as they arrive safely in England after escape from Dunkirk, 1940.

#16 A soldier of the British Expeditionary Force, arriving back from Dunkirk, is greeted affectionately by his girlfriend, 1940.

#17 Thousands of soldiers line up to be evacuated from Dunkirk. Of the 250,000 British troops (the British Expeditionary Force) stranded at Dunkirk after the fall of Belgium, 30,000 were lost in the heroic rescue, as well as all their equipment, 1940.

#18 A long drink for a member of the BEF at the end of his journey home from Dunkirk, 1940.

#19 A British ship rescues soldiers from a landing craft sunk during an operation, 1940.

#20 A British ship rescues soldiers from a landing craft sunk during an operation, 1940.

#21 General Lord Gort commanded the British Expeditionary Force in France that had to be evacuated from Dunkirk during the German invasion of 1940. General Maurice Gamelin, leader of the Allied forces at the outbreak of World War II, proved unable to stop the German advance because of his overconfidence in the Maginot Line, 1940s.

#22 A wounded French sailor arrives in Britain, 1940.

#24 Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of British and Allied troops from Dunkirk 27 May to 3 June 1940. Members of the British Expeditionary Force on a Royal Navy vessel docking back in Britain, 1940.

#25 A flotilla of little boats helped in the evacuation of British, French, and Belgian troops from the beaches around the French channel port of Dunkirk. They are seen here being towed back up the river Thames, 1940.

#26 A soldier reading his Daily Mirror newspaper following his evacuation from Dunkirk, 1940.

#27 British Expeditionary Forces and French troops awaiting evacuation from the beach at Dunkirk, 1940.

#28 A long drink for a member of the BEF at the end of his journey home from Dunkirk, 1940.

#29 British troops being helped board rescue craft from the pier during the Battle of Dunkirk during World War II, 1940s.

#30 Crew members of the French destroyer Bourrasque, sunk by mine off Nieuwpoort during the Dunkirk evacuation, are hauled aboard a British vessel from their sinking life-raft, 1940.

#31 Members of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) smiling happily at a halt in their journey as they arrive safely in England after escape from Dunkirk, 1940.

#32 Members of the British forces arrive home by train after being evacuated from Dunkirk, 1940.

#33 Men of the French Army greeted by villagers at a Kent railway station after their evacuation from France during the Battle of Dunkirk, 1940s.

#34 Evacuated troops enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station, London, 1940.

#35 Destroyers filled with evacuated British troops berthing at Dover, 1940.

#36 Ships carrying members of the BEF leaving Dunkirk during the evacuation of British troops, 1940.

#37 French marines and soldiers arriving in a south coast town in England after evacuation from Dunkirk, 1940.

#38 Two soldiers arrive back in England after being evacuated from Dunkirk. One of them is only wearing his pyjamas, 1940.

#39 A cook house set up on a London station platform, England, serving hot food to servicemen arriving from northern France, following the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, 1940.

#40 A street in Dunkirk under heavy bombardment during the German attempt to take the town before the evacuation of the allied armies, 1940.

#41 French soldiers, survivors of heavy fighting at Dunkirk, relax in Great Britain during World War II, 1940s.

#42 A British soldier helps a wounded man drink while waiting to be evacuated from Dunkirk, France, 1940.

#43 The crew of the London based tug ‘Sunvill’, one of the many small craft which took part in the evacuation of British and allied troops from Dunkirk, 1940.

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Written by Andrew Thompson

Andrew Thompson is an archaeologist and historian who specializes in the study of war and conflict. He writes about the brutal history of warfare, including the World Wars and other significant conflicts. Through his work, he aims to deepen our understanding of the human cost of conflict and inspire us to work towards a more peaceful future.

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